To our incredible Bookalicious community, we have a mix of bittersweet news, a dash of patience, and a whole lot of silver linings to talk about today. If you’ve been counting down the days until September 2026 for the next major chapter in the Game Changers universe, you might want to take a deep breath.
Unrivaled, the highly anticipated third book focusing on our favorite ice hockey rivals-turned-lovers, Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov, has officially been postponed.
Author Rachel Reid took to social media to share a heartfelt announcement, revealing that the publication date has been moved from its original September 2026 slot to June 1, 2027 via Harlequin/Carina Press.
While waiting an extra nine months feels tough, the reasons behind the delay remind us why we love Rachel—and why this final chapter is going to be worth every single second of the wait.
Why the Delay is a Blessing in Disguise
Writing a masterpiece takes time, and Rachel is navigating a lot behind the scenes right now. She laid out three major reasons for needing a bit more space to breathe:
Prioritizing Her Health: Rachel, who bravely shared her early-onset Parkinson’s diagnosis back in 2023, let fans know that her symptoms have recently worsened. This has made the physical act of writing much slower and infinitely more demanding.
The TV Show Phenomenon: Unless you’ve been living under a literal glacier, you know that the Heated Rivalry TV adaptation on Crave and HBO Max has completely exploded. It swept the Canadian Screen Awards with a record-breaking 16 wins (including Best Drama Series!) and became a global sensation. The massive media demands and sudden fame completely took over her quiet writing time.
Protecting Shane & Ilya’s Final Arc: Rachel explicitly stated that because Unrivaled is the definitive final chapter for Shane and Ilya, she refuses to rush it. She wants it to be the absolute best book it can possibly be for the fandom, and requested a extension to finish it properly.
As a bookstore that cares deeply about the creators behind our shelves, we are 100% team #TakeYourTimeRachel.
The Silver Lining: Heated Rivalry Season 2 Details!
If you are worried about a Shane and Ilya drought, don't look away just yet. The massive success of Season 1 means the television world is moving fast to bridge the gap.
Heated Rivalry Season 2 has been officially greenlit and is moving full-steam ahead! Bell Media executives recently confirmed that scripts are coming together beautifully, and filming is scheduled to begin this August.
The upcoming season will target a Spring 2027 release window on Crave and HBO Max, and it is set to adapt Rachel’s incredible 2022 sequel novel, The Long Game, alongside elements from Role Model.
| Project | What to Expect | New Release Target |
| Heated Rivalry Season 2 (TV) | Adapting The Long Game; Filming starts August. | Spring 2027 |
| Unrivaled (Novel) | The ultimate final book chapter for Shane & Ilya. | June 1, 2027 |
